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Based on observation, medical record review, staff interview and facility policy review, the Registered Nurse failed to follow infection control policy during care for one (Patient #2) of three patient care observations made. The facility census was 157.


Findings include:


Review of the medical record for Patient #2 revealed an admission date of 07/27/16 with a diagnosis of vaginal bleeding. The patient had a positive nasal swab for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and was on contact isolation precautions.

During an observation of a blood transfusion on 08/03/16 at 1:40 PM, Staff E, was observed reaching into a chest pocket of his/her medical scrubs to obtain reading glasses while wearing personal protective gown and gloves for contact isolation. After charting on the computer in the patient room, Staff E reached inside the gown to return the glasses to the scrub pocket. Staff E was also observed reaching around the protective gown into his/her scrub pants pocket to obtain alcohol wipes to wipe the patient's intravenous line port prior to flushing the line. After flushing the line Staff E reached back into the pants pocket to get a label to attach to the tubing for the blood transfusion. At the end of the observation Staff E reached back into the chest scrub pocket to retrieve the reading glasses to see the blood pressure readings. During the observation Staff E was wearing the gloves donned upon entry to the patient room.

An interview with Staff E at 2:00 PM confirmed the above findings. An interview with Staff C at 2:10 PM on 08/03/16 confirmed Staff E was observed taking items out of his/her pockets while in the contact isolation room against facility policy.

Review of the facility undated Isolation Precautions Policy, page 7, revealed hands should be washed thoroughly after patient care and after contact with inanimate surfaces.